So it's been about three weeks since we last had this conversation, but once again we have to take action to try to keep Social Security from being the victim of "deficit fever".
I know that doesn't make a lot of sense, considering the disconnect between Social Security and the deficit-but once again it's "Continuing Resolution" time on Capitol Hill, where some use the threat of an impending shutdown of the Federal Government to extract concessions from the other side...and some on the other side try to make points with the voters by out-conceding their opponents.
So Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, there's a national push on to get voters to call their Senators and remind them to vote for an Amendment that is a big ol' "I'm not willing to cut Social Security just because other people philosophically want to cut Government any way they can" kind of reassurance to the voters, and I'm here to encourage you, once again, to make a couple phone calls and do some pushing of your own.
I've also been storing up a couple somewhat facetious random thoughts which will be the "garnish" for today's dish; you'll see them pop up as we go along.
We are coming down to the end of the 111th Congress, and we are all surprised that a number of things actually got done: a nuclear arms reduction treaty appears to be on the verge of approval, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was repealed; we have new health care and financial reforms (admittedly, they’re imperfect solutions, but…), food safety reform, a better way to do student loans, and a credit card reform act that‘s forcing issuers to spend thousands of labor hours to develop new and better ways to work over consumers.
And yet there is one important bit of legislation that is still being blocked by Republicans, and, amazingly enough, it’s a bill that would provide health care and compensation for those people who ran down to the World Trade Center site on September 11th, and for months thereafter, in the effort to rescue and recover victims, and to restore normal operations in the city after the attack.
Yes, folks, you heard me correctly: the Party of waving flags and “Second Amendment solutions” and tri-cornered hats and Rudy (“noun, verb, 9/11”) Giuliani is now engaged in a desperate battle to screw over the very 9/11 first responders that you would think they would be…well, putting up on a stage somewhere next to Rudy Giuliani.
Dover, Delaware (FNS)-Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell shocked the crowd at a Delaware political breakfast meeting when she announced that she has changed her thinking about masturbation following a weekend bathtub "incident".
Spike Fromula, O'Donnell's press secretary, explained to the press gaggle today that O'Donnell now realizes that it is possible to "masturbate without lust in your heart" after Saturday night's revelatory event, which Fromula described as a "slip and fall episode".
"It wasn't exactly 'The Passion of the Showerhead'" said Fromula, in a reference to her former work as a marketing consultant to the Mel Gibson movie of a similar name, "but there is no doubt that her thinking on the issue has evolved".
The Louisiana Democratic Party has created yet another smart web ad hitting David Vitter for some comments he made recently to an audience in small-town Crowley, Louisiana. He basically told them that they were all wealthy - and said it in such a way as to indicate his belief that the average Louisiana resident is wealthy as well. The video sends a message to the Senator that, unlike folks he usually hangs out with, the average Louisiana resident makes only $43,000 a year.
This talk was part of Vitter's defense of the George Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans - the very small group making more than $250,000 annually. Congress has to decide this fall whether to let those tax cuts expire or to extend them. Read more in these articles from the Christian Science Monitor and the Washington Post.
Finally, watch the video from DoingAVitter.com for yourself and then leave a comment with your thoughts on this question -- Is David Vitter really this out of touch with everyday folks in Louisiana?
Senator Landrieu's affirmative vote wasn't enough to lift the Senate over the Republican's procedural hurdle today, as GOP Senators successfully held up a bill that would force transparency for corporate spending in elections.
The DISCLOSE Act, or the"Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act" (don't you just love it?) would require corporations to file reports detailing their political expenditures. The bill was held up by Republicans today after a 57-41 procedural vote along party lines (see article from The Hill).
The DISCLOSE Act was offered in response to the Citizens United v. FEC decision by the Supreme Court earlier this year (here's some background) that rocked the foundation of campaign finance law in America. In its decision, the 5-4 majority of the Court essentially held the following:
spending money = speech
corporations = people
people have freedom of speech under the First Amendment
THEREFORE, corporations have the constitutional right to spend as much money as they want to influence elections
What do you think, does this make sense? Republicans are known for being "pro-business," so of course they would want the business lobby to be able to spend unlimited amounts of cash keeping them in office. Fundamentally, I tend to agree with what law professor and civil rights attorney David Kairys wrote for Slate shortly after the Citizens United decision came down: "Money Isn't Speech and Corporations Aren't People."
A Washington Post-ABC News Poll found that most Americans disagreed with the Supreme Court's ruling on this issue - but what do you think? Vote in our poll below and leave a comment.
Just in case you missed it...and don't forget to vote in the poll at the end of the article.
I'm going to tell you a secret about one of the political parties in Louisiana, although anyone who keeps up with state politics in Louisiana already knows what I'm going to divulge.
Senator Vitter has again dropped out of sight as yet another scandal breaks in his short tenure as Louisiana’s Junior Senator.
NOTE:As this story has been developing I shied away from reporting on it, as I didn’t think making this political was wise or was worth our readers time.However things have dramatically changed and it’s the Senator’s own actions (and that of his staff), that is making it political.
This week news broke via ABC New’s that Senator Vitter has had in his employ a man who had been arrested for attacking his ex-girlfriend with a knife and had an open warrant for his arrest in Baton Rouge for drunk driving.
The aide, Brent Furer, worked on the Republican senator's last campaign, and has spent the last five years posted in his Washington office to handle, among other things, women's issues.
An ABC News investigation out this morning revealed that Furer had repeated brushes with the law dating back to the 1990s. Those who have had encounters with Furer told ABC News that his presence on Vitter's payroll raised serious questions about the senator's judgment. Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said it concerns her that the senator has talked so forcefully as an advocate for women and an opponent of drunk driving, and yet kept someone with Furer's background on his staff.
From the political side of things, this is yet another serious blow to Senator Vitter’s attempt at reaching out to women.But the story doesn’t end there.Guess what Mr. Furer’s job was for Senator Vitter?You guessed it – in part he was responsible Women’s Issues.
Yet it seems the Senator’s office is trying as hard as they can to say that they were giving Mr. Furer a second chance because he is a Vet and suffering from PTSD.
While we've all been busy watching the "oil spill live cam", a similar uncontrolled discharge has been taking place in Washington, DC
In this case, however, it's lobbyists that are spilling all over the landscape as the House and Senate attempt to merge their two visions of financial reform.
They're trying desperately to influence the outcome of the conference in which House and Senate negotiators have been engaged; this to craft the exact language of the reconciled legislation.
There's an additional element of drama hovering over the events as eight House members, including one of the most vocal of the Republican negotiators, face ethics questions related to this very bill.
The best part: if you're enough of a political geek, you can actually watch the events unfold, unedited and unfiltered, from the comfort of your very own computer.
So far, it's been amazing political theater, and if you follow along I'll tell you how you can get in on the fun, too.
Those who are regular visitors to this space know that I post stories across the country, and to do that I have to follow stories from a number of states.
Because I post at Kentucky's Hillbilly Report, I've been paying particular attention to the Rand Paul campaign, and the news from the Bluegrass State (via "The Rush Limbaugh Show") is that Paul's planning to write his own balanced budget proposal for the Federal Government.
But there's a catch.
He doesn't plan on doing it until after the election.
Well, now, why in the world would a guy who's running for office based on his really good ideas want to hold back the best one?
That's not a bad question, and if we make the effort we can probably figure out the most likely answers.
In case you missed it, Congressman Charlie Melancon has been calling for the resignation of BP's CEO, Tony Hayward, even circulating an online petition that has over 1500 e-signatures. Apparently, Melancon was none too happy after Hayward mentioned wanting the spill to be resolved because he wants his life back. Now this from an article on Nola.com:
The Huffington Post report said that Keith Jones was the Keith who signed the online petition in slot No. 848 with the comment, "My son died aboard the Transocean Deepwater Horizon. That's whose life Tony Hayward ought to want back." The report said Keith Jones' identity was confirmed through an e-mail exchange with him at his law firm in Baton Rouge.
Senator Landrieu issued the following release for Memorial Day:
Landrieu Honors Louisiana's Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day
WASHINGTON - As our nation observes Memorial Day, U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., honored the members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have lost their lives serving their country. Since 2001, more than 5,000 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines, including many brave Louisianians, have been killed in action during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"Today is a day when we pause to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives to defend our freedom," Sen. Landrieu said. "Throughout our nation's history, more than 650,000 Americans have lost their lives in battle fighting tyranny, oppression, fascism, communism and terrorism, and it is because of their selfless heroism that we stand today as the world's brightest beacon of democracy. We can never make up for the loss their families have suffered, but we can honor their memories by providing the best care to our troops and their loved ones."
Senator Landrieu has received many awards for her leadership on military and veterans issues. In February 2006, the Reserve Officers Association gave her the Minuteman of the Year Award, which recognizes recipients for their leadership on national security issues. Landrieu has also been awarded the Military Officers Association of America's (MOAA) Legislator of the Year Award, the National Military Family Association's Award for Service to Military Families, and the G.V. ''Sonny'' Montgomery Eagle Award for congressional service by the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States.
(We're proud to have Michael as a Guest Contributor, and we're always looking for more. Let us know if you want to write! - promoted by Matt B)
How Dare They!!! I say it again, how dare they!!!
I just clicked on an internet advertisement paid for by the Republican Party of Louisiana, and they are trying to drive a political wedge by saying that Charlie Melancon doesn't care about the oil spill! All one has to do is look at the work Charlie has done since the disaster, and you know it's a bald face lie. Is this really the time to be trying to score cheap political points?
We are facing the greatest environmental disaster in the history of this country - a disaster that could very well be the death knell for several communities in South Louisiana and that will affect us all for generations to come, and they want to play politics. Shame on them! Don't get me wrong, I'm a good Democrat, and I can throw punches with the best of them in a good political fight. But there is a time and place for politics, and this is not it.
Whatever happened to putting Louisiana First? Whatever happened to common decency and common sense? Hell, whatever happened to plain old, simple manners? This is a time for all of us who love the Great State of Louisiana to put politics aside and work together to fix this mess.
Shame on the Republican Party for trying to drive us apart when we should be pulling together! Even more, shame on us if we let them!
Michael McHale (Daily Kingfish Guest Contributor) is an attorney in Lake Charles and First Vice Chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party.
40 days from today - on May 18 - we will see two HUGE primaries for U.S. Senate. Even though these races aren't in Louisiana, they impact Democrats across the country and, well, the entire country as a whole.
In Pennsylvania, Democratic Congressman Joe Sestak will try to upset Republican-for-decades Arlen Specter.
In Arkansas, Democratic Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter will try to upset corporate lackey Blanche Lincoln.
These two races are tremendously important to defining who and what the Democratic Party is and what we will be fighting for.
If you can volunteer for these candidates (or encourage friends and family in Pennsylvania and Arkansas to do so), that would be amazing.
Of course, if you can help with a contribution to either or both via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page as soon as possible, it will make a big impact.
Polling shows that both Specter and Lincoln are at risk of - if not likely to - hand these Senate seats over to far-right-wing Republicans. (And, even if these two retain the seats, that's not much better on many key issues.)
Congressman Sestak and Lieutenant Governor Halter winning these primaries are critical to keeping these seats in truly Democratic hands. Your support can help make that happen! Please hop over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page right away to make a contribution - an investment in the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party to pull out an old expression - and show your support.
Thanks SO much for any support you can provide. 40 Days.
The pivotal first fundraising quarter of 2010 comes to a close this Wednesday, just three days awayTODAY!
While the Sinning Senator David Vitter continues to vie for the title of the most hypocritical member of the U.S. Senate, Democratic Congressman Charlie Melancon has worked hard to lay a foundation for Vitter's defeat in 2010.
You can help further Congressman Melancon's effort with a contribution today via the Expand the Map! ActBlue page. Every dollar he's able to report before the end of the fundraising quarter will demonstrate his campaign's strength against Vitter. It makes a big difference and a real impact.
On the Expand the Map! ActBlue page, Congressman Melancon is just 1 single contribution away from the 25-mark and just $95 awayjust $45 away from the $500-mark! You can help him cross these thresholds with a contribution today.
Please hop on over to the Expand the Map! ActBlue page and support Charlie Melancon (and our other Democratic candidates for Senate) before the quarter ends TODAY!
Even in Louisiana, I'm sure you've heard plenty about what's going on with the still-unsettled Senate race in Minnesota.
While Republican Norm Coleman prolongs his endless and pointless appeals, cementing his admission into the Sore Losers Hall of Fame, progressive organizations Democracy for America and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee have introduced a new effort: NormDollar.com, "A Dollar a Day to Make Norm Go Away." Very simply put, commit to contributing just one dollar per day for every day that sore loser Norm Coleman refuses to concede.
This is exactly the correct approach to take in order to provide Republican leadership in Washington with adequate disincentive from continuing to fund Coleman's endless appeals. The GOP bigwigs funding Coleman's appeals see value in putting their money toward keeping progressive Senator-elect Al Franken from being seated. This grassroots-powered effort will make them think twice by generating many thousands of dollars for progressive candidates for every single day that they fund the Coleman circus.
If you feel so inclined, you can certainly chip in a bit of change directly to the Franken Recount Fund, as well.
Senator Mary Landrieu addressed the Democratic National Convention this afternoon during a session featuring prominent female Democratic Senators. Senator Landrieu appealed to the Democratic Party to keep the recovery of the Gulf Coast from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita at the top of the national agenda.
The GOP ran on a platform of reducing the size of government, but after 9/11 President Bush created a sprawling new branch of government and subordinated the role of FEMA beneath it. In spite of its size, the bureaucracy of the Bush White House has become far less efficient.
It is time to bring back the Democratic philosophy of government that Bill Clinton introduced to America when he declared that in 1996 that "the era of big government is over." Barack Obama can return us to the prosperity and safety that comes from a small, efficient, and well-organized Administration.
(Oh, it's on. It's gonna be Landrieu v. Kennedy for the Senate. The only question I will ask of the erstwhile Treasurer is "Are you going to run for the Senate, and if so, doesn't Louisiana deserve someone who will be our FULL-TIME Treasurer?" - promoted by ryan)
Six weeks after Louisiana's highest ranking elected Republican, Senator David Vitter, made it clear that he cheated on his wife with prostitutes, the state's Treasurer, John N. Kennedy, declared that "I have concluded that the Republican Party is the party that best reflects my values today." Some great values, huh? Treasurer Kennedy is now a Republican, which heightens expectations that he will challenge Senator Mary Landrieu in 2008. Hopefully Democrats will run a credible candidate against Kennedy, if only to get him on the record with answers to questions like "If re-elected, do you promise Louisiana voters to serve your full term?" and "If you're just going to run for another office next year, why should voters re-elect you to this office this year?"
The aide, Brent Furer, worked on the 
